Afternoon business headlines: 5-9-14

Friday, May 09, 2014 3:24 PM

2014 college grads optimistic, but behind in getting jobs

CNNMoney: Only 11 percent of college students graduating this spring had secured a job two months before graduation, according to a survey conducted in March by Accenture. In the survey of 2,000 graduates, the members of the class of 2014 expect to find a job in their desired field soon and to make more money than recent graduates before them. Despite their optimism, 2014 grads face a tough job market, joining a backlog or recent graduates struggling to find jobs or in a job but making less than $25,000 a year.

Survey: Most gay workers still in closet in U.S.

CNNMoney: The majority, or 53 percent, of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenderemployees are closeted at work, according to a random poll of 806 LGBT and 879 non-LGBT respondents published by the Human Rights Campaign. Even as support for same-sex marriage and gay rights continues to grow, many workers said they still don't feel comfortable enough to come out of the closet on the job.

Obama's Wal-Mart appearance draws liberal and activist ire

MSN Money: President Barack Obama's decision to promote solar energy technology this week at a California Wal-Mart, because of the chain's commitment to double the number of solar energy projects at its stores, triggered a backlash from labor unions and equity pay advocates. "What numbskull in the White House arranged this?" former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who served in the Bill Clinton administration, said in a posting on Facebook on Thursday.